Thursday, November 10, 2016

Jailed for Exposing Burmese Army’s Human Rights Abuses

Khaing Myo Htun is a Rakhine human rights activist and a spokesperson of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP). His arrest was related to a statement issued by the ALP which exposed the various human rights abuses committed by the Burmese Army in Rakhine State.

After the statement was issued in April, Rakhine State Border Affairs and Security Minister Colonel Htein Lin summoned Khaing Myo Htun to the government office in Sittwe and threatened him personally with prosecution if the ALP's allegations could not be substantiated.

Khaing Myo Htun provided the evidence of the allegations to the authorities in May. However, an army officer filed a complaint against Khaing Myo Htun claiming that he had committed the offences of sedition/endangering public tranquillity and incitement. He was arrested on 25th July and charged under Section 505 (b) and (c) of the Myanmar Penal code. He was denied bail and is currently being detained in Sittwe Prison while his trial continues.

Your action has helped released many political prisoners in the past. There can be no peace and national reconciliation, if political prisoners remain behind bars.